Wondering who has used them, out of any 6mm, what was your approx. MV, range, shot placement and outcome if you don't mind. Also what accuracy did you get?

I have used 70TNT's, 85 BTHP, 85 x, 100 partitions, and 105 amax to kill deer. Just wanting to hear reports on this one particular bullet = the 95 ballistic tip on deer.

Thanks.

I have used them on antelope with good success out of a 240 WBY.
Just shot an antelope 10 datys ago with a 90 grain ballistic tip. Was broad side at 230 yards. Hit him just behind the shoulder. The bullet exploded inside with no exit wound. He ran 100 yards and folded.
That shot also was with a 240 WBY.

I used a 55g BT out of a .243 this past saturday to take a smaller mule deer buck here in Idaho. Head on at 280 lazered yards off a steady large rock rest. Hit him just a little off center and took out his shoulder and lung and left a 2x3 inch hole in the ribs. Velocity was at 4025 fps; recovery distance was about 4 feet,

In my daughter's Model 7 .243 she has had excellent success with Nosler's 95 grain BT.
Nosler 95 gr. Ballistic Tip
43.7 grains H 4350
Rem. 9 1/2 primer; WW case
M.V. 2973 fps
A 55 grain BT in a 243 at 4025FPS is not only a deer killer (maybe) but a meat killer as well. To me that's a varmint round.

I have taken antelope sized deer with it, from 100 yds out to about 300, and then with MVs going from 2500 to 3000 out of 243s...

My son is currently hunting with a 243 with a 95 grain BT at 2600 MV... 22 grains of Blue Dot is the load....no deer presenting a shot yet.. at least with legal horns on it...

I used the 95gr ballistic silvertip for a while in a 18" 243 with old style moderator. MV was 2,700fps

I can remember one big fallow that I shot that was well aware of me and just about to run. The placement was about 3/4 on and quite far forward. The buck went about 40yards and piled up. The bullet was nicely expanded just under the skin losting it's core when I took it out.

I have used a lot more of the 90gr which is IMHO a better compromise. Only 5gr less weight yet near 300fps faster. I've shot quite a few fallow with it and it has allways done me great whether from a short barreled 243 (MV 2,800fps) or my 6mm rem (MV 3,200fps) My absolute favourite 6mm bullet.

I have used the 95 gr BT in a 240 WBY. It literally explodes coyotes. I have also used it to fill a couple whitetail doe tags. I would suggest limiting your shots to broadside lung and neck shots.I would prefer to use the 95 gr Partion on deer.

1894, you get 300fps more with same cartridge going from 95 down to 90s? Interesting.

Actually it's nearer 200fps - sorry for the exageration but the fact remains that it is much much easier to get it going faster without pressure. The 95gr bullets extra weight seems to be in the shank

ballistic tips are not game bullets yes they may work, but then again they may blow up on the surface, why risk a wounded animal

Maybe deer where you are have armor plate

butchloc wrote:

quote:

ballistic tips are not game bullets wrote:

Once again, here we go with bad information. Yes, Nosler offers varmint Ballistic Tips, but the 95 grainer in 6mm aint one of 'em.

I've used the 95 grainer on 2 exotics that are about the size of a whitetail (175-200 lbs). (I had to look back into my notes for the particulars as my blood pressure meds are killing my short-term memory!)

Both were pass-throughs. One was a double-lung shot with an impact velocity of app. 2650 fps. The exit was the size of a 50-cent piece.

The other had an impact velocity of app. 2200 fps, took out both lungs and broke the off-side shoulder before leaving a quarter-sized exit.

Both animals dropped on the spot.

At moderate velocities, the BTs are tremendous medium-game bullets. I've used them in many calibers to take quite a bit of game -- including hogs -- and have never, ever encountered any problem. In fact, I generally get an exit on almost any broadside presentation.

Thanks for the insight, I think the Nosler site will clarify the latest 'nomenclature' for their bullets:

http://www.nosler.com/index.php?p=3

BT Varmint vs BT Hunting, Nosler makes both, both different.

Again, just looking for feedback from those who used this bullet in field and appreciate replies.

Looking to try some in 243 and/or 6BR on deer myself.

snowman-Yes, at Weatherby velocities, the BTs can be destructive. But that is because they were not designed for those velocities.

Used as the manufacturer intended and within its specific design parameters, the BTs are perhaps the best thin-skinned game bullet ever devised.

But like with anything, if they are used for improper applications are beyond their optimum velocity windows, the results may be anything but impressive.

Funny how bullets that start out at 3000 fps or better just might prove a bit dramatic at short ranges. It's also funny how we are always putting together rifles that work on the far side of 200 yards when shots that long are a small percentage of the total when talking of deer. Maybe I should load down a bit to 2800 fps and have a nice 250 yard deer cartridge. I have never taken a whitetail at farther than 250 yards and only one Mulie at around 300 yards. The only snivel I have is my 6MM Remington is laser like accurate when I push just about any bullet thru it at 3000 fps.

If you need to shoot at very big deer, moving deer, unconventional angled deer, buck fever deer, innacurate deer, internet deer or missed deer, you are better off choosing something other than a 243 and ballistic tips.

At least you won't have to put up with the interminable rubbish you hear about both of them.

I have a couple of 243s that just love the 95 Balistic Tips. Very accurate and with proper shot placement they are deadly on deer sized animals out to 275 to 300 yds. Only problem I have with them is Nosler has slightly changed the design through time. If you find some to the older 100 packs, the tips are a little different shade of purple and go back into the bullet slightly deeper which changed the weight distribution which changed accuracy points slightly. The older bullets shoot a little better in my rifles.

Interesting stuff,

1894, I hear you, get flack all the time about using a 243, 7br or 6br and I have had 338/06's and 338 win mag (just to compare recoil to above-and there was a difference!), but really I hate to carry a 708 when I can 'experiment' using something nobody else is, KNOWING when I do my part, my knife gets some use!

Longest deer kill= 400 yds...cartridge= 6BR

Stunt-no, I had a rifle that I had been using at 400 meters and knew just where to hold, had a stable rest, tack driving rifle, and an 8 ounce set trigger, it was a chip shot by a non-golfer! 6-24 mil dot helped also.

SO, thanks for the info guys.

Bobby, about that Weatherby, having gone 180 from mainstream shooting JUNIOR calibers one might say, I hate magnums for the most part. They are warranted by some, but not needed where and what I hunt, SO, I will keep on enjoying my mild mannered rounds. IF/when I get back to the west for Elk, I want a 338 bore, likely a Federal or /06 version. That should do me for intended ranges. I do see value in 7 and 300 WSM's (270 is a great Long range deer-elk ctg IMHO) but the blast on those and others make me cringe.

Those who can shoot them well and don't mind the blast and recoil, kudos, this guy is just
sensitive perhaps after playing with the small stuff. I did enjoy my 338/06 of any gun larger than 270 winchester, and tolerated it for the amount I did each time at the bench. 8lb gun and Decelerator recoil pad did not hurt. I shot it 1/2 MOA about every group so flinching was not an issue.

That said, I am looking forward to using my 'lil' guns the next time I head to the range, or in the woods-season opens next weekend!

6.5 BR-

I hear you about the recoil of the larger calibers. Been there, done that and have no intentions on going back. My mild-mannered rounds do very well, and nothing has ever complained that it wasn't killed dead enough...

I even use a little 6mm-.223 for some of our smaller deer here in TX and on exotics as well. For more than a couple decades, I've had one in one form or another, and it has never let me down. Heck, that "little" 6mm-.223 makes the 7BR look like a magnum...

Keep talking Bobby and I will be wishing I had my SGY 221 FB back that I had picked up locally and later sold, thinking it was only good for prairie dogs and crows

A local biologist/retired game warden has shot plenty deer in the woods with 221 (may been pistol), 222, and 22 Savage High power, guess he got of his 308 HB that he had poured thousands or bullets through.

His words.....shot placement.

Anyway, reminds me, I 'HAD' a TC in Fajen thumbhole stock, 21" 12 twist(seems like that has been a magic number for so many bbls on my guns?) bullberry in 6TCU. Went out one day and had a shot on a lease, 338/06 in hand (got the TC for my son then but he wasn't along) and put a 200 btip broadside double lunging a little buck-about70 yds, he wheeled and came right under my stand and then off to a thicket, blood trail no doubt, could see the exit hole pumping blood as he passed, red about size of a golf/tennis ball, and the thing went 100yd at least in those seconds before dropping. I was shocked. Would have neck shot it but wanted to see field performance........all other deer shot with that rifle were flattened DRT or 3 jumps.

That said, I honestly believe my 85HPs loaded in my TC around 2800 or so would have done the job faster shedding all energy inside that skinny smallish buck. A larger deer might have absorbed more energy from the 338 bullet, but that day, the 6mm/223 improved might have been the gun to have had.....that was ONE sweet shooting light recoiling rifle. Buddy just HAD to have it, so it got traded like so many.

I guess I will have to downsize my cartridge of choice if I ever get your way, to get an 'invite' ha! BR's are magnums....when I get older I might just accept that, but right now they do great. But, to your point, after shooting my BR's the 7mm-08 seems like a magnum. Not painful, but it just is not as nice, and those who have never shot the likes of a smaller mild mannered BR and rounds in that range would not understand. 260 and 6.5x55 qualify as the top end of rounds I want to spend alot of time for extended shooting sessions. Maybe I need to learn to pull back the throttle on some rounds w/all but hunting loads......but you know, it's like having a variable scope, I wonder how often many of us ever shoot them on anything LESS than all the way cranked up?

Oh, just remembered, when chrono loads with 70TNT's, in that 6TCU, they churned about 3000-3200. Once with a buddy we shot a sapling about 5-6", hardwood, we were shocked to think what it might do to a deer as it went thru! That bullet is explosive in my BR at 3400, which made me wonder how it could have gone through that wood. For lung shots, a light 6mm into a deer is not healthy! Hit one at 200yd with 6BR and it went on dead sprint 60 yds, put brakes on and toppled. Destroyed onside lung.

You shooting 85 speers in your 6/223? Handgun or rifle? Thanks.

Have a good one -get out there and pop that old hog you have out behind your house then send me the details.

Hey, that ol' hog seems to have left the country. But I am not giving up as I think (and hope) he'll be back.

For this brute, I am bringing out the big guns: either a 6.5 Bullberry Imp with a 140 grain GameKing at 2600 fps or a .308 WCF with a 150 grain BT at 2780 fps from a Savage 10 FP LE-2.

In the 6mm-.223, my favored projectile in pistol barrels is the discontinued Sierra 80 grain Single Shot Pistol bullet. At around 2700 fps MV, it is so predictable in performance and accuracy that it is almost boring. THe Sierra 80 grain Blitz is virtually the same, and the 80 grain Nosler BT has done fairly well, though it has shown a bit of erratic terminal performance.

With the additional velocity of carbine-length barrels, the 80 grain Speer does extremely well and is followed closely by the Sierra 85 grain HP.

As to a bullet shooting through a sapling, the density of the wood can keep an otherwise frangible projectile intact and can give inaccurate readings/expectations as to penetration.

But the 70 grain BT in a 6 TCU at 2900 fps MV or so isn't all that fragile. It generally shoots through and exits smaller deer given broadside presentations. If it doesn't exit, you can count on it being against the hide on the far side and weighing 50-58 grains.

I know the thread is about one particular bullet, but I couldn't help posting this old photo that I happened across in my gun room tonight:


Bullet performance was perfect. The first shot staggered the billy, and he dropped to his knees at the shot. I quickly put another on the point of the shoulder to expedite the inevitable, but a field autopsy later showed this was unnecessary. The first shot destroyed both lungs before exiting. The second shot broke the onside shoulder and lodged in the off-side shoulder but was not recovered.

Great info Bobby, believe Bob Milek liked the above 6/223 80gr SSP above load.

Heard a buddy rave on a very long shot with a 243 70 Btip at long range on an antelope, never realized they were built so tough, heard other reports, one on 6BR.com site, gun of week review..

http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek037.html

Man reviews like this tempt me to bankruptcy! Ha.

It was Bob Milek who got me interested in the 6mm-.223. After reading his initial article on it, I knew then and there I had to have one. I had an XP-100 in .223 that wasn't seeing much action, so I had it re-barreled.

Back then, the SSPs from Sierra weren't offered yet, and the best bullet around for medium game was the 85 grain Sierra BTHP. There was virtually no data available on bullet performance at the reduced velocity of the 6-.223 and others, so much was trial and error (lots of error )

Now we are blessed with more good bullets and, thanks in part to the internet, a proliferation of in-the-field information on terminal performance.

I could not tell you how many deer that we as in (myself, dad, nephew etc. etc.) have killed with a 243 and 95 grain ballistic tips. From just a few yards to over 300 most of them either dropped in their tracks or ran 50 yards at most with most of them not making it that far.
We used them for years before someone told that the bullet and cartridge combination wouldn't big enough to kill deer. For a long time when I was younger that 243 that I inherited from my grandpa was the only centerfire rifle I owned till I made enough money to buy my own rifles.

I also have a 6x45 (6mm-223) that likes 85 gr bullets but always felt that the Sierras would be too soft for springbok (80 lb) sized animals. Have you found them okay?

Re: Sierra 85's BTHP, my son took 2 deer back to back in Texas, about 100lbs or so, one at 300 yds from 243, hit back, DRT, other shoulder about 200 yds, ran maybe 30 yds on 3 legs, damage looked like a 270 hit it I'd thought.

I consider them very effective. I was interested in 95s as I got a deal on some, use an 8 twist in my 6BR and expect accuracy to be great, and the extra weight should not hurt IF I 'must' take a shot from a bad angle-and deem the odds favorable, and/or take a very long shot and want more retention of energy.

Jarrod, great report, confidence I want.

To second what 6.5BR said,the 85 grain Sierra BTHP will do quite well -- and should be rather authoritative on 80 pound animals.

Thanks, I'll try them sometime.

A lot of shooters are fixated on the reputation of the Ballistic Tip as a rapidly expanding bullet, believing that it will "blow up" on anything more substantial than a ground squirrel. While the BTip is a rather quickly expanding bullet (appropriate to the lighter species of big game), it is also a SOLID BASE bullet. The solid base, a substantial billet of jacket metal, provides greater penetration than similarly expanding bullets. While pass-thoughs on deer-sized animals with a 6mm BTip may not occur regularly, the coreless base and jacket usually make it to the far-side skin after devastating the heart/lung area. What more could you ask of a hunting bullet?

I acquired an older Sako in .244 Remington during the off season. Its 1-300mm (about 1-12") twist won't handle a very long bullet, so I've loaded 90 grain BTips for deer at somewhere around 3200 fps. I'll report on their performance in a few weeks.

The 95 gr. BT is a pretty long bullet. A lot of people don't know that the Ballistic Tips jacket is thicker than say a corelokt also in an attempt to control the fast expansion of it's point. This causes us to use a bit less powder to get very similar velocities. The bullet was truly designed to open at the lower velocities of longer ranges. But deer are usually shot at under 150 yards so you get what you get, a compromize.

One of my favorite deer rifles is my 6x45 (6mm/223) I have been using the old 75 gr. Barnes X bullets for the last 20 years although they are now discontinued, but I still have a small supply..

My 6x45 is an L-461 Sako action, 18" Douglas barrel, stocked in African/English styling with a beatiful pice of dark red walnut. Weighs about 5 lbs is my guess and shoots the tinest groups of any rifle I have ever owned..I have had it for 20 plus years as a testiment to its greatness, and I am the worst gun whore in the world, I will sell anything as a rule.

I have shot both mule and whitetail deer and antelope with it..I also did a little culling on Springbok in RSA with it..

I will soon run out of the 75 gr. BX bullets so may have to use some other bullet?? I have never been a Barnes X fan, but in this caliber and in that weight has sure worked good up to 200 yards or so.

Ray, good to hear about your 6x45 success, but have you noticed how in South Africa it has become popular as a slow cartridge. While I need the lighter bullets for longer range, most Bushveld hunters use the 100 grainers to hit harder and yet retain the slim lines of the mini-actions and overall easy shooting.

quote:

Originally posted by 6.5BR:
Wondering who has used them, out of any 6mm, what was your approx. MV, range, shot placement and outcome if you don't mind. Also what accuracy did you get?

I have used 70TNT's, 85 BTHP, 85 x, 100 partitions, and 105 amax to kill deer. Just wanting to hear reports on this one particular bullet = the 95 ballistic tip on deer.

Thanks.

I started loading the 95gr Ballistic Tips for my dad 15 years ago. They drop whitetail in their tracks just as quickly as my 7mag with 150 grain Ballistic Tips.

The wound channel is devestating. The lungs are turned to jelly, end of deer. He did shoot a small buck (his first) in the neck. It removed both horns, emptied the skull and removed the eyeballs.
I'm working on a 243 for benchrest & hunting as we speak.

Bobby, I had meant to reply re: sapling penetration, agree....would not expect same in animal.

Sonny, great report, thanks.

Expect to carry my RSI #1 243 this opening weekend with 95's if I get a shot after my son gets his first....

Guy was at the range yesterday, 300 Jarrett, 165's at 3400fps, muzzle braked.....can you say L O U D !!!

I was there to sight in a friends friend 300 mag, and he said it recoiled more than his Jarrett, but I cannot for the life of me desire anything like these 30 cal cannons when all I shoot around here is up to deer/hogs.

Also, Ray, LONG ago wanted a 6x223 or tcu on a vixen action. Almost got a used 6.5 tcu on one, but the bbl was a #1 or #2 and fluted, lighter than I like, but did have the TCU in a TC contender carbine, nice, never killed but think that 75gr x you used would be ideal. Could be other bullets do well, my gun was ordered with 12" twist for up to 85 BTHP, groups ran from nickel to quarter sized, would order a 10" twist next time just to be sure, but in that case, it will handle those weights fine, with proper twist. No need for 100 gr.

IIRC, Sam Fadala years ago did a write up, using 80 gr speers I believe, at 2800-3000 using BL-C powder but HIS was a 6mm/222, the Deuce case, could be when seated at OAL in magazine a 222 does almost as well w/best powder as a 223. BUT, 223 brass too easy to get, and often free at the range, and a TCU although nice, needs fireforming for best accuracy, etc, so straight 6/223 seems to be the best way to go. If you have a 12 or faster twist I'd try some 85-87's when your 75's run out. A 14 twist may have trouble with over 80 flat base, my need even lighter. Sounds like a neat handy rifle you have there.

6.5BR and Karoo,
I used the 80 Gr. Speer when I first got my 6x45 and although it worked most of the time, I had an ocassional seperation or loose lead at my 2900 FPS as I recall...It always killed however.

In my Sako L-461 the heavy bullets required deep seating to work though my magazine, even after modification so that was undesirable..

The 75 Gr. Barnes X was the perfect bullet for my rifle and penetration was better than any other bullet I tried, always got two holes from about any angle short of full length body shots and never tried that as the caliber is simply too small to take those kinds of shots IMO, even though I suspect the 75 gr. BX might just do the job..Exit holes were normally around 3/4" to a full 1". Blood trails were pretty fair, but like any small caliber not great, but fortunatly nothing ever went more than 50 yards so far...

Like any sub caliber, I keep range to about 200 or preferably less and place my shots very carefully, not a lot of room for error with small calibers, and one may have to pass on shots that a .270 would be perfect for...

Since my reply to this forum, I reported all kills were dead in their tracks. I went through my old notes, and found the following additions:
One coyote, removed left front leg at the shoulder, rolled over & died. 40 yard shot on a HUGE doe, she was dried up and massive, at least 6 years old. The 95 gr Ballistic Tip went through both shoulders. She "snow plowed" about 20 yards and died.
This is a bit off topic, but I see a pattern I don't like. The biggest myth in these parts in a Ballistic Tip will not kill a deer. I just ignore the comments. I wonder if there was some kind of problem after I looked at the Nosler Page today. I was under the assumption that the Accubond Bullet was made to replace the Ballistic Tip. From what I can see, the 2 bullets are identical, except for the bonded core. I did see that Nosler is offering 2 brands of Ballistic Tips now, a Varmint & Deer version.
I still have 95gr Ballistic Tips purchases in the early 90's, for my 243. My notes showed my handloads were in the low 3200 FPS range.Even though I had no problems with separation, I wonder if I should use the old lot of bullets for target only.

I'm waiting on reply from Nosler on this subject. In the mean time I'm working on some test loads using Barnes X Bullet's.

If I can get the accuracy needed, I might just switch to the Barnes Bullets for hunting. I always use Leupold Optics with target turrets on my guns so I can keep records of the scope setting for each load, then I can switch loads easily.

I would never have given this a thought until I saw the Deer Hunting Ballistic Tips.

Anyone else have an info on the above?

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
I've loaded 90 grain BTips for deer at somewhere around 3200 fps. I'll report on their performance in a few weeks.

This is easily the best deer bullet I've used in 243/6mm - flat shooting and very effective. As you state complete exits are not the norm but killing power is amazing!

I'm interested that the bullet is stabilised in a 1 in 12. I would have thought that it was getting on for the length of a standard non boat tail 100gr?

quote:

Originally posted by Sonny Burnett:
I still have 95gr Ballistic Tips purchases in the early 90's, for my 243. My notes showed my handloads were in the low 3200 FPS range.Even though I had no problems with separation, I wonder if I should use the old lot of bullets for target only.

Anyone else have an info on the above?

Yes - don't worry provided you shoot stationary deer at conventional angles with accuracy!

The deer won't have changed, the bullets won't have suffered metal fatigue - take a good rest, pull the trigger and walk up to a dead deer!